Longford GAA: Carrickedmond pip Rathcline in a frantic finish

Enda Farrell on the ball for Carrickedmond in this tussle with Rathcline opponent Garth Reilly. Action from the SFC Relegation Round 1 clash at McGann Park Photo: Syl Healy | Syl Healy

placeholder image — Enda Farrell on the ball for Carrickedmond in this tussle with Rathcline opponent Garth Reilly. Action from the SFC Relegation Round 1 clash at McGann Park Photo: Syl Healy | Syl Healy

Peter Hanley Senior Football Championship Relegation Round 1

Carrickedmond . . . 1-12 Rathcline . . . 1-11

Six points behind at one stage of the second half, courageous Carrickedmond showed a lot of character to pip Rathcline in a frantic finish to the Senior Football Championship Relegation Round 1 clash at McGann Park in Kenagh on Friday night.

It was a great recovery by Eugene McCormack’s spirited side with Brian Mulvey firing over a two-pointer free in stoppage time to win the match and keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop down into the Intermediate Championship next year.

Rathcline led by 1-5 to 1-3 at the break thanks to a fisted goal from Garth Reilly in the early stages of the game while Sean Kelly kept Carrick in contention when he planted the ball in the bottom corner of the net in the 24th minute.

The Lanesboro outfit were looking good when they extended their advantage on the changeover but they eventually let victory slip from their grasp as Carrickedmond enjoyed a new lease of life in rising from the dead.

Rathcline are now under a lot of pressure as they face a must win match against Mullinalaghta at McGann Park on Friday night next and the relegation round-round will be decided the following weekend when St Columba’s take on Carrickedmond with just one of these three clubs surviving in the senior grade.